Bernalillo County Commission Chair Eric Olivas updated District 5 constituents this week on major housing investments, infrastructure improvements and legislative priorities affecting the East Mountains and Northeast Heights communities.
The county has secured over $40 million in state funding for the BernCo Builds Community initiative, aimed at housing 1,000 individuals over the next two years. Combined with $40 million allocated to the city of Albuquerque, the $80 million investment represents a significant state commitment to addressing homelessness in the region.
“At a time of much distrust and division, we have the opportunity here at the local level to cut through much of the noise around us and deliver for the people of our community,” Olivas wrote in his fall newsletter.
The commission chair presented the county’s housing and homelessness challenges before the Legislative Finance Committee this summer, noting that Albuquerque and Bernalillo County support 70% of the state’s homeless population despite comprising only 32% of New Mexico’s total population.
Infrastructure improvements underway
Olivas announced that design work has begun on improvements to the dangerous intersection of N.M. 333 and Mountain Valley Road/N.M. 217 in the East Mountains, with construction scheduled to begin in fall 2026. The intersection has become a major public safety concern, with crashes occurring weekly.
“With rapid growth in the area, the infrastructure of 20 years ago no longer serves the safety and convenience of the public today,” Olivas said.
Speed cameras will be installed as an interim safety measure.
Summer flooding in Tijeras destroyed a pedestrian bridge connecting the Los Vecinos Community Center to A. Montoya Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School. The county is working to replace the bridge, which Olivas called “a prime example of our changing climate and the challenges we face to build resilient infrastructure.”
Open space developments
The commissioner unveiled a draft master plan to open Sedillo Ridge Open Space, the county’s largest open space at over 600 acres, after 25 years of county ownership. The plan proposes limited access for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking through a small parking lot off Brannan Road.
A new Route 66 Open Space trailhead opened June 27, offering access to Tijeras Creek trails running from Four Hills to the Tijeras Biozone.
Legislative agenda
The commission recently passed several resolutions, including the Safer Community Spaces ordinance requiring protections against unconstitutional entry by federal agents in sensitive facilities. The measure passed its first reading 4-1 on Oct. 14, with final hearing scheduled for Nov. 18.
The commission also approved a resolution protecting public lands from federal sale efforts and set capital outlay priorities for the 2026 legislative session, including funding for East Mountain road improvements and the Los Vecinos Community Center renovation.
The fiscal year 2026 county budget passed unanimously with no tax increases while providing across-the-board salary raises for employees.
